How to replace a lost or stolen British Residence Permit
Dear Mr Bassie,
I CANNOT find my British biometric residence permit. I would like to know what I should do to replace it. Any help would be appreciated.
LZ
Dear LZ,
Persons should report their biometric residence permit (BRP) lost or stolen from inside or outside of the United Kingdom (UK). Please be aware that persons can only apply for a replacement from inside the UK and that the Home Office will make contact within one working day of reporting it.
It is also possible for someone to make the report on behalf of the holder, for example, a legal representative, a charity, employer, college, or university. There are other ways to prove immigration status while persons wait for a replacement BRP.
BRPs are different from biometric residence cards (BRCs). BRCs are also called ‘UK residence cards’. Persons might have one if they are in the UK as a family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein. Please note that there is a specific way to report a lost or stolen BRC.
IF IN THE UK
If the lost or stolen BRP was valid for three months or more, report it and apply for a replacement. However, persons must do this within three months of losing it. Persons can be fined up to £1,000 and made to leave the UK if they do not apply for a replacement within three months.
If the BRP was valid for three months or less, persons must do one of the following:
• Report it as lost or stolen if they do not intend to remain in the UK after its expiry date;
• Apply for a replacement if they plan to leave and re-enter the UK within three months of its expiry date;
• Apply to extend their visa if they want to stay in the UK after its
IF OUTSIDE OF THE UK
Persons must report their lost or stolen BRP outside the UK. They cannot apply for a replacement BRP outside of the UK. Instead, they will need to apply for a ‘replacement BRP visa’, which will allow the holder to re-enter the UK once only. The cost of this is £154.
Persons can apply f or a replacement BRP when they return to the UK. Those persons must do this within three months of reporting it l ost or stolen unless they have a good reason, for example, they were unable to return to the UK at that time.
Persons who have been away for over two years and they have lost documentation proving their right to live in the UK can apply for a Returning Resident visa.
IF THE BRP IS FOUND AFTER BEING REPORTED LOST OR STOLEN
Persons will not be able to use their BRP if they find it after they report it lost or stolen. If they are in the UK, they will still need to apply for a replacement.
If outside of the UK, they will still need to apply for a ‘replacement BRP visa’ to travel back to the UK before applying for a replacement.
When the replacement arrives, persons should cut their older BRP into pieces and post it to the Home Office. They should ensure that they cut through
• Their personal details.
• The royal coat of arms.
• The gold biometric chip if the card has one.
Persons who may have found someone else’s lost or stolen BRP and are in the UK should post the BRP to the Home Office using an envelope without a window. Returns Unit
PO Box 195
Bristol
BS20 1BT
Please do not send any other items or documents with the BRP as they will be destroyed. If outside of the UK, persons hand the BRP into the police or to the nearest British embassy or consulate.
All the best.
John S. Bassie is a barrister/ attorney-at-law who practises law in Jamaica. He is a justice of the peace, a Supreme Courtappointed mediator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a chartered arbitrator, the past global president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (UK). Email: lawbassie@yahoo.com